Introduction | Concerts | Art | Stage | Movies | Sports | Festivals | Outdoors | Wineries
THEATRE WORKS
The Velocity of Autumn | Jun 1 – 26
Mountain View Center for Performing Arts
An octogenarian artist barricades herself in her Brooklyn brownstone, determined to avoid being put into a retirement home. She must negotiate her future with her long-estranged son who struggles with his own battles. (JS)
Confederates | Jul 13 – Aug 7
Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto
In this World Premiere, father’s running for President, but daughter’s running wild. When someone unfurls a confederate flag, scandal hits the fan and the press runs amok. An audience favorite at the 2015 New Works Festival, this political drama skewers muckraking media and the pursuit of headlines. (JS)
The Life of the Party | Aug 24 – Sep 18
Mountain View Center for Performing Arts
Fresh from London, this musical evening stars Tony Award-nominated composer Andrew Lippa and friends in the American premiere of a revue of his hits: The Addams Family, Big Fish, award-winning The Wild Party, poignant I Am Harvey Milk, and many more. Surprises and laughs with song and sophistication. (JS)
LOS ALTOS STAGE COMPANY
Bat Boy | May 26 – Jun 25
Bus Barn Theatre, Los Altos
A musical comedy/horror show about a half boy/half bat who must battle prejudice, intolerance, and provincialism in rural West Virginia, with a driving rock score, humor, and pathos.
Assassins | Sep 1 – Sep 25
Bus Barn Theatre, Los Altos
Stephen Sondheim’s raucous musical carnival features notorious American assassins including John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme and John Hinckley, among others. Signature Sondheim lyrics and music explore our culture of celebrity.
CITY LIGHTS THEATER COMPANY
I and You | May 19 – Jun 19
City Lights Theater, San Jose
Two teenagers, worlds apart, discover just how much they have in common as they work together to complete a homework assignment and discover something startling and life-changing.
American Idiot | Jul 14 – Aug 21
City Lights Theater, San Jose
The Tony-winning musical extravaganza, based on the Grammy-winning multi-platinum album by East Bay’s punk-rock band Green Day, tells the story of three friends searching for authentic life in an uncertain world. Featuring the hits Boulevard of Broken Dreams, 21 Guns, Wake Me Up When September Ends, Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) and the title track, American Idiot, the show is a sure-fire summer sizzler.
PALO ALTO PLAYERS
Vanya and Sonia and Masha
and Spike | Jun 10 – Jun 26
Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto
Classic Chekhov themes collide with present-day angst and hilarious shenanigans, as a modern Vanya and Sonia’s humdrum country life turns chaotic by a surprise visit from their Hollywood star sister, Masha, and her young hunky boyfriend, Spike. Winner of a 2013 Tony for Best Play.
PEAR THEATRE
August: Osage County | Jun 24 – Jul 10
Pear Theatre, Mountain View
A fiercely dark comedy about an American family reunited by the disappearance of the patriarch. Expect dysfunctional dinners, drug-laced arguments and the spilling of secrets in bracingly funny dialogue.
BROADWAY SAN JOSE
Mamma Mia | Jun 3 – Jun 5
Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose
The smash-hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, the eighth-longest running show in Broadway history, will perform five performances by the national touring company. Dance in your seat to “Dancing Queen” and more of ABBA’s greatest hits.
Motown: The Musical |
Jun 21 – Jun 26
Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose
The story behind the music follows Berry Gordy’s rise to fame as the music mogul who launched careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more. Featuring classic Motown hits such as “My Girl” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
STANFORD REPERTORY THEATER
Slaughter City | Jul 21 – Aug 7
The Nitery Theater, Stanford
Work in a meatpacking plant never sounded so good, in this West Coast premiere of a humorous and riveting play with music; moving and thought-provoking.
Waiting for Lefty | Aug 11 – Aug 21
The Nitery Theater, Stanford
Still hauntingly relevant, the great American play by Clifford Odets tells a story of the fight for collective bargaining and workers’ rights; a sometimes violent but always valiant struggle for human dignity.
